An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Photos

Snapshots of what’s happening in the Defense Department.

Senior Afghan officers greet U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan C. Crocker upon their arrival to an Independence Day celebration at the Ministry of National Defense in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2011. Afghan citizens celebrate Independence Day Aug. 19 to commemorate the 1919 Treaty of Rawalpindi, which granted independence from Britain.

AFGHAN GREETING

Senior Afghan officers greet U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan C. Crocker upon their arrival to an Independence Day celebration at the Ministry of National Defense in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2011. Afghan citizens celebrate Independence Day Aug. 19 to commemorate the 1919 Treaty of Rawalpindi, which granted independence from Britain.

Photo Gallery